Safety binding device for a boot on a ski

ABSTRACT

A safety binding device for a boot on a ski has a jaw to hold the sole of the boot against the ski elastically. A latch controlled by an elastic element limits the maximum force supportable by the jaw before it is unlatched to release the boot. The device has at least one ramp against which a friction member is elastically supported to absorb a certain energy whose level increases simultaneously with the increase in the displacement of the jaw before the force exerted by the boot reaches the unlatching value of the elastically controlled latch. A roller or ball is arranged to come into action at the unlatching value of the force, thereby eliminating the action of the friction member. The ramps may be straight or curved. The friction member can be a ball, roller or sliding wedge. Manual release and resetting levers may be incorporated.

United States Patent Salomon [72] Inventor: Georges Pierre JosephSalomon, Avenue de Loverchy, 34 Annecy, France [22] Filed: Nov. 4, 1969[2l] Appl. No.: 873,992

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 10, 1968 Switzerland..l8463/68 [52] U.S. Cl 280/1135 T [51] Int. Cl ..A63c 9/00 [58] Fieldof Search ..280/11.35 T

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,125,349 3/1964 Schweizer..280/11.35 T 3,291,500 12/1966 Voster et al.. ..280/1 1.35 T 3,490,783l/l970 Shimizn ..280/11.35 T

[451 Jan. 25, 1972 [5 7 ABSTRACT A safety binding device for a boot on aski has a jaw to hold the sole of the boot against the ski elastically.A latch controlled by an elastic element limits the maximum forcesupportable by the jaw before it is unlatched to release the boot. Thedevice has at least one ramp against which a friction member iselastically supported to absorb a certain energy whose level increasessimultaneously with the increase in the displacement of the jaw beforethe force exerted by the boot reaches the unlatching value of theelastically controlled latch. A roller or ball is arranged to come intoaction at the unlatching value of the force, thereby eliminating theaction of the friction member. The ramps may be straight or curved. Thefriction membercan be a ball, roller or sliding wedge. Manual releaseand resetting levers may be incorporated.

9 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN25I972 30637228 SHEEI 19FINVENTOR 620/2655 7 1/ SIIILO/IMA/ ATTORNEY PATENTED mes x972 SHEEI 2[If 8 INVENTOR ATIOR NEY PATENTEUJANZSIQYZ 3.637.228

sum 30F a INVENTOR BY @MW ATTORNEY INVENTOR GEaeezs PJ. S ON ATTORNEYPATENTEU JANZS I972 SHEET 0F 8 PATENTEDJANZSISYZ 353 71228 saw 58F 8ZNVENTOR 650/2655 Pd. SAM/MO BY W ATTORNEY PATENTEU JANZS 1972 SHEET 8OF 8 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENTEU JANZS Q72 WEN [IF INVENTOR 6 50/2455 J5440mm ATTORNEY PATENTEDJANZSIQYZ 3,63%228 sum 8 0F 8 INVENTOR aeazs P JSJQLOMOA/ BY W' ATTORNEY SAFETY BINDING DEVICE FOR A BOOT ON A SKI Thepresent invention relates to a ski safety binding. More particularly itrelates to a safety binding device for a boot on a ski, comprising a jawfor retaining the sole of the boot against the ski, said jaw beingmovable but subject to elastic action tending to hold it in activeposition, and a latch controlled by an elastic element limiting themaximum force capable of being borne by this jaw before being unlatchedto free the boot.

Numerous safety binding devices of the type indicated above are alreadyknown. In certain of these, the elastic travel which the retaining jawcan undergo, before the unlatching of the safety system constituted bythe elastically controlled latch, is obtained by direct or indirectsupport of the jaw on a spring or similar elastic element. This elastictravel is also ob tained in certain known devices by rolling of arevolving member such as a roller, or a ball, subject to the action of aspring, against a cam whose profile is calculated as a function of theforce which the binding device must be capable of bearing. In theseabove-mentioned known devices, the spring used must be of considerableforce, given the good efficiency of the rolling mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved safetybinding device.

It is another object to achieve a sole retainer providing a weak activeor motive force, and considerable passive or resisting force.

It is a further object to provide a ski safety binding device whichtransmits the energy from a spring (or from an elastic element) to amovable part directly or indirectly subject to the action of the boot,producing the best possible compromise between spring economy andfidelity of unlatching.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will emerge fromthe description which follows.

According to the invention there is provided a safety binding devicecomprising at least one ramp against which is elastically supported africtional member intended to absorb a certain energy whose levelincreases simultaneously with the increase in the displacement of thejaw, before the effort exerted by the boot reaches the unlatching valueof the elastically controlled latch, a rolling or reduced frictionalmember coming into action just before this unlatching to eliminate theaction of the frictional member.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a number ofembodiments of the ski safety binding device according to the inventionare described below purely by way of illustrative but nonlimitingexamples, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, inwhich:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a ski safety binding deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 1 showing it in position securing the boot on a ski, while FIG. 2shows the position close to the time of release of the binding;

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the safety binding device;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show in two operational positions, a fourth embodiment ofthe safety binding device;

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a fifth embodiment of the device in three differentoperating positions;

FIGS. 10 and 11 show respectively sixth and seventh embodiments of thedevice;

FIGS. l2, l3 and 14 show the eighth and ninth embodiment of the device,

FIG. 12 thereof shows diagrammatically involved, and

FIGS. 13 and 14 show two different operational positions of the ninthembodiment;

FIGS. 15 to 19 show a tenth embodiment of the safety device according tothe invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagram of the forces exerted on the retaining jaw for theboot as a function of the travel of the latter.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the safety binding device for a boot 1on a ski 2 comprises a retaining jaw 3 hinged around a pin 4 fixed withrespect to the ski. This pin 4 is therefore carried by a support or amounting 60. On this same pin 4 is hinged a part 5 the end 6 of which iscapable of being displaced with regard to a fixed portion 7 of themounting 60 which is provided with a hole 8. In this hole 8 is arrangeda latch comprising a revolvable member such as a ball or a roller 9subject to the action of a spring 10. The end 6 of the part 5 has arecess 11 inside which the revolving member 9 is capable of engagementto latch part5. The part5 comprises, in fact, a lever intended to beactuated by the arm 12 which is an extension of the jaw 3 beyond itspivoting point on pin 4. Between the arm 12 and the part 5 is arranged afriction member 13 in the form of a wedge. The friction member 13 issubject to the action of a spring 14 tending to push the member 13between the two ramps 15 and 16 disposed on the facing surfaces of parts5 and 12 respectively. It is understood with reference to the drawingand, particularly to FIG. 2, that when a certain force tends todisengage the boot 1 from the ski 2, the jaw 3 undergoes a risingmovement, which causes the movement of the arm 12 toward the part 5causing sliding of the friction member 13 against the action of thespring 14, between the ramps 15 and 16. During this displacementmovement of the friction member 13 against the action of the spring 14,much energy is lost in friction. If the force tending to release theboot 1 from the ski 2 ceases while the jaw 3 is in the position shown inFIG. 2, the wedge-shaped friction member 13 restores the jaw 3 to itsoriginal position to again urge the boot 1 against the ski 2. On theother hand, if the force to which the boot 1 is subjected increasesfurther from the position shown in FIG. 2, the latch comprising theroller !9 moves into the hole 8 against the action of the spring 10,which permits tilting of the part 5 thus allowing escape of the boot 1which is then freed from the jaw 3. A device, not shown in the drawing,is then actuated to restore the safety device into its initial cockedposition.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is only, of course, verydiagrammatic and intended only to illustrate the principle of operationof such a safety device. Of course, it would be preferably in reality toreplace the rectilinear form ramps 15 and 16 by ramps of convex shape,the frictional member 13 also being replaceable by a revolvable membersuch as a roller or a ball, for example.

In the second embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the safety bind ing devicecomprises the same parts as in the first embodiment, that is to say ajaw 3, hinged around a pin 4, a part 5 hinged around this same pin, alatch 9 subject to the action of a spring 10 and a friction member 13subject to the action of a spring 14 supported on an arm 12. In thissecond embodiment, the ramps 15 and 16 are of convex shape whichfacilitates the operation of the friction mechanism.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment, very similar to the preceding one, inwhich a single convex ramp 15 has been provided, the ramp 16 being ofrectilinear shape such as shown in the first embodiment. The operationof these three embodiments is hence similar in principle.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a fourth embodiment comprising also a jaw 3 hingedaround a fixed axle 4 borne by the mounting 60 and a part 5 hingedaround the same axle 4. A latch 9 comprising a ball, or a roller, urgedby a spring It) is also provided for engagement in a recess 11 of thepart 5 and thus to guarantee the normal operating position of thebinding device. In this embodiment, the arm 12 extending from jaw 3beyond the axle 4, has a part in the form of a ramp 16 with which therevolvable friction member 13 cooperates subject to the action of aspring 14 arranged in a housing 17 of the part 5. The friction member 13is therefore supported between the ramp l6 and a ramp 15 formed on thepart 5. The end of the ramp l6 situated close to the free end of the arm12 is provided with a shoulder 18 intended to be supported against apart 19 forming an abutment on part 5 when a certain force is exerted onthe boot and tends to disengage the latter from the ski. These two parts18 and I9 come into contact with one another after the friction member13 has been pushed back against a certain amount of energy by frictionbetween the ramps 15 and 16. It is therefore only from this positionshown in FIG. 6 that, when the force exerted on the boot continues toincrease, the latch 9 can be pushed back against its spring 10 and causethe unlatching of the binding device and, thus, the release of the boot.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show another embodiment in which the jaw 3 is extendedbeyond its pivot pin 4 by an arm having a recess 21 for a latch 22 inthe form of a revolvable body, for example in the form of a roller. Thislatch 22 is carried by an arm 23 urged by a spring 24 in the directionof the arm 20. The arm 23 is guided in a slide 25 arranged in a fixedportion 26 of the mounting 60. The portion 26 has also a stop 27 for thelatch 22, as well as a ramp 28. Between the ramp 28 and the arm 23 isarranged a wedge-shaped friction member 29, the member 29 being subjectto the action of a spring 30.

The operation of such a safety device is hence as follows:

When the forces not exceeding a certain given limit are exerted on theboot 1 and tend to disengage it from the ski 2, the arm 20 tends topivot in a clockwise direction, which causes the displacement of thefriction member 29 towards the left as shown in FIG. 8. As soon as theforce exerted on the boot exceeds the limiting value fixed by the latch22, the latter comes into abutment against the stop 27 and, under theeffect of an increase in the force acting on the boot, the latch 22emerges from the the recess 21 enabling the arm 20 and, thus, thejaw 3to tilt so freeing the boot. Thus, and as in the preceding embodiments,a spring 30 of relatively slight force is sufficient to cause anabsorption of frictional energy before the safety device reaches thedegree of pull causing its release.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment very similar to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment according to FIG. 10, the retainingjaw3 for the boot 1 also has an arm 12 which extending beyond its pivot pin4 carried by the mounting 60. The arm 12 has a convex ramp 16 with whichcooperates with a friction member 13 formed by a plunger piston subjectto the action of the spring 14. This plunger piston 13 hence exertsfriction between the portion 15 arranged on the part 5 and the convexramp 16. In this embodiment, the latch 9 comprises a roller hinged on anarm 31 pivoted at 32 with respect to a fixed portion of the mounting 60and subject to the action of a spring 33. The latch 9 is intended to beengaged in a recess 11 of the part 5 to ensure the retention of thebinding device in its normal position of use.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment in which the revolvable body 38 pivoted at39 is provided at the end of the arm 12. In this embodiment, thelimiting force which the safety device can support is obtained when aplunger piston 34, urged by a spring 36, enters into contact with therevolvable body 38, the latter then urging the piston 34 back inside itshousing in a portion of the mounting 60 after rolling over the head ofthe piston 34, against the action of the spring 36.

FIG. 12 is a variation of the embodiment according to FIG. 11, in whichthe plunger piston 34 is replaced by the end 40 of a lever arm 41 hingedon a fixed pin 42 carried by the mounting 60 and subject to the actionofa spring 43. In this embodiment, it is the portion 40 which comprisesthe friction member in contact with the ramp 16 of the arm 12 rigidlyfixed to the jaw 3. This portion 40 constitutes simultaneously the latchcooperating with the body of revolution 38 to limit the maximum forcecapable of being sustained by the binding device.

In the so-called elastic period of operation of this embodimentaccording to FIGS. 12 to 14, which operational period is shown in FIG.13, the coefficient of friction proportional to the tangent of the anglea and thus, in the direction of movement, the force of the spring 43 istransmitted to the jaw 3 along one or other of the directions of thearrows 44 and 45 situated on both sides of the normal N at the point ofcontact of the portion 40 with the ramp 16.

The retaining torque applied to the jaw 3, although always in the samedirection, varies in the ratio of the lever arms, that is to say by thedistance of the vectors at the pivoting point 4. But in the unlatchingphase shown in FIG. I4, the friction is replaced by a rolling of verylow coefficient a.) and in the direction of the movement, the vectorsstay very close to N. With such a construction, the moment of release ofthe binding device can then be regarded as true with respect to thevalue of the original elastic force. It should be noted that as avariation, the roller 38 could be replaced by an element with very lowcoefficient friction, for example a tip of synthetic material such asthat designated by the expression PTFE." It is to be further noted thatto compensate, on the encounter of the roller 38 with the end 40 of thelever 41, the suppression of the resisting force due to friction, it isnecessary that the roller 38 extends somewhat beyond the level of theramp 16.

In this embodiment, a lever 61 hinged on a spindle 62 carried by themounting 60 enables the manual release" or voluntary liberation of theboot by pressure on the free end of the lever 61. It is to be noted thata ramp 63 of appreciably cylindrical form and concentric with the axle 4of the jaw 3 enables the maintenance of the locking spring 43 compressedafter liberation of the jaw 3.

The last embodiment shown by FIGS. 15 to 19 also comprises a jaw 3hinged around a principal fixed pin 4 carried by a mount 60. The jaw 3is connected by a pivoting shaft 46 to a jaw arm 47 formed at the lowerend of the part 48 and forming part of a jaw means. This part 48includes a ramp 49 terminating in a boss 50. The boss 50 includes anedge 51 extending therefrom. In this embodiment, the friction member isformed by the flanged end 52 of a lever 53 hinged on a fixed pin 54 andsubject to the action of a spring 55 whose tension is adjustable bymeans of a stop screw 64 carried by the mounting 60. Between the twoteeth 56 of the end 52 in the form of a fork is hinged a roller 57 theperiphery of which is withdrawn with respect to the end 52. A roller 58turning around a fixed axle 59 carried by the mounting 60 is intended toserve as guide for the part 48 bearing the pedal 47. The normal positionof operation of the binding device is shown in FIG. 18. It is seen thatin this position, the spring 55 acts on the lever 53 to hold the end 52of the latter in rubbing contact with the ramp 49 which forms a wedgebetween the guide roller 58 and the end 52.

The more the force exerted on the boot tends to increase, the greater isthe amount of frictional energy absorbed by friction between the end 52and the ramp 49. As soon as this force approaches its limiting value,the various parts of the binding device then occupy the position shownin FIG. 16 in which it is seen that the end 52 of the lever 53 leavesthe ramp 49, the roller 57 becoming supported against the boss 50. Ifthe force exerted on the boot continues to increase from this position,the roller 57 escapes from the boss 50 and rolls over the edges 51causing the upward disengagement of the jaw 3, as shown in FIG. 15,

The extension 65 of the lever 53 constitutes a releasing" lever enablingthe voluntary liberation of the boot by pressure on the end of the arm65.

The edge 51 provided on the part 48 has also the purpose of facilitatingthe resetting" of the safety device to restore this device into itsposition of normal operation shown in FIG. 18.

Numerous variations of execution of the safety binding device for a booton a ski described above could be envisaged. It should be pointed outfirst of all that this safety device is just as applicable to the fixingof the toe of the boot with respect to the ski as to the fixing of theheel of this boot on the ski. With the object of simplifying thedescription of the various embodiments described, the embodimentsillustrated with respect to FIGS. 1 to 14 show essentially pivotingparts in the form of levers or arms. It is clear, however, that as avariation the same results could be obtained by applying the claimedprinciple to parts with linear or complex displacement, parts guided onlink rods, ramps or the like, such as the part 48 forming a portion ofthe last embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 19.

It is to be understood also that in certain of the embodiments describedabove, the parts such as the latch 9 or the plunger piston 34, insteadof being carried by fixed parts of the device, could be carried bymovable parts which, normally, are intended to cooperate with them, thatis to say that a trans position in the position of the parts could beeffected.

The safety binding device for a boot on a ski described above by way ofseveral embodiments therefore enables the use of springs as weak aspossible giving a reliable release of the device, inasmuch as it can beadapted to certain irregularities of operation in the portion of theopening travel of the device, referred to as the so-called elasticperiod of operation. it suffices, in fact, for the release to bereliable, that the mechanism using a frictional force during the portionof the elastic travel be replaced at the moment of release by a rollingdevice or a device with at least very much reduced friction only cominginto action at the end of displacement of the retaining jaw for the soleof the boot.

The diagram of FIG. illustrates clearly the general principle ofoperation of the safety fixing device described above by way of thevarious embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The forcesacting on the jaw 3 are shown along the ordinates (kg), while the travelof thejaw is shown as abscissae (mm. The discontinuous line E is thetheoretical curve of the forces of the one or more springs, omitting allfriction,

The curve L shows the added" forces:

spring forces plus frictional forces measured on the raising of the heelwhich is then motive, the jaw then being in resisting position.

The curve R shows the subtracted forces:

forces of the spring less the frictional forces measured on the returnof the jaw 3, the latter then being motive and the heel being resisting.

This diagram shows clearly the hysteresis obtained systematically beforethe point D, where a reliable release is produced, that is to say theunlatching of the elastically controlled latch 9, for example, byelimination of the frictional rubbing. Only a very light rolling orgliding friction would come into action at this moment.

It will be clear that various other changes and modifications may bemade in the embodiments described without departing from the essentialconcept of the invention as defined in scope by the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. In a safety binding device mounted on a ski for retaining a bootthereon, said device including a housing, displaceable aw means carriedby said housing for clamping the sole of the boot against the ski, firstresilient means normally holding said jaw means in sole clampingposition, a latch cooperating with said jaw means, second resilientmeans acting on said latch to control the maximum force supportable bysaid jaw means before unlatching of said latch to free said boot, theimprovement comprising at least one ramp on said jaw means, aresiliently urged friction member engaging said ramp, said frictionmember absorbing energy the level of which increases simultaneously withthe increase in displacement of said jaw means before the force exertedby the boot on the jaw means reaches the unlatching value of said latch,and revolvable fric tion means acting on saidjaw meansjust before theunlatching thereof to eliminate the action of said friction member.

2. A device according to claim ll, wherein said ramp includes a bosslimiting the maximum amplitude of displacement of said jaw means underthe effect of a force exerted on the boot, a lever, spring meanscontrolling said lever, said friction member comprising the end of saidlever, said lever carrying said revolvable friction means cooperatingwith said boss when the force which the binding device must sustain isclose to its maximum value.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said boss includes an edgeproviding a second ramp, said revolvable friction means cooperating withsaid second ramp after unlatching of said latch to cause the escape ofthe jaw means and facilitate the resetting of the device.

. A device according to claim 3, wherein said boss and its edge are partof a member hinged to said jaw means and a guide member mounted on saidhousing supports said hinged member during the latching and unlatchingof said device.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said friction member isgripped between two surfaces movable with respect to one another andconverging towards one another.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein one of said surfaces isintegral with said jaw means, the other surface is part of a movablemember cooperating with said latch.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said jaw means and saidmovable member are pivotally connected to each other, said two surfacesforming two ramps between which said friction member is disposed.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said friction member comprisesa plunger piston urged by a spring against said ramp.

9. A device according to claim I, wherein said latch and friction memberare a single element and are spring urged against said ramp, and saidrevolvable friction means is mounted at one end ofsaid ramp.

1. In a safety binding device mounted on a ski for retaining a boot thereon, said device including a housing, displaceable jaw means carried by said housing for clamping the sole of the boot against the ski, first resilient means normally holding said jaw means in sole clamping position, a latch cooperating with said jaw means, second resilient means acting on said latch to control the maximum force supportable by said jaw means before unlatching of said latch to free said boot, the improvement comprising at least one ramp on said jaw means, a resiliently urged friction member engaging said ramp, said friction member absorbing energy the level of which increases simultaneously with the increase in displacement of said jaw means before the force exerted by the boot on the jaw means reaches the unlatching value of said latch, and revolvable friction means acting on said jaw means just before the unlatching thereof to eliminate the action of said friction member.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said ramp includes a boss limiting the maximum amplitude of displacement of said jaw means under the effect of a force exerted on the boot, a lever, spring means controlling said lever, said friction member comprising the end of said lever, said lever carrying said revolvable friction means cooperating with said boss when the force which the binding device must sustain is close to its maximum value.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said boss includes an edge providing a second ramp, said revolvable friction means cooperating with said second ramp after unlatching of said latch to cause the escape of the jaw means and facilitate the resetting of the device.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said boss and its edge are part of a member hinged to said jaw means and a guide member mounted on said housing supports said hinged member during the latching and unlatching of said device.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said friction member is gripped between two surfaces movable with respect to one another and converging towards one another.
 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein one of said surfaces is integral with said jaw means, the other surface is part of a movable member cooperating with said latch.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said jaw means and said movable member are pivotally connected to each other, said two surfaces forming two ramps between which said friction member is disposed.
 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said friction member comprises a plunger piston urged by a spring against said ramp.
 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said latch and friction member are a single element and are spring urged against said ramp, and said revolvable friction means is mounted at one end of said ramp. 